Silverware sorter

ABSTRACT

A silverware sorting construction for handling knives, forks and spoons. A bed is provided with vibrating means or other devices for moving silverware toward a discharge end of the bed. Knives on the bed are maintained in position and are discharged into collecting means located at the end of the bed. Discharge openings are defined at an intermediate location, and both forks and spoons pass through the discharge openings. A plate is positioned beneath the discharge openings, and slots are defined by the plate for receiving the forks and spoons. The slots are dimensioned so that the forks will pass through the plate into separate collecting means. The spoons are held suspended by their bowls and are moved along the plate to discharge openings at the end of the plate. A separating means may be employed for separating spoons of different size, for example separating spoons with longer handles from spoons with shorter handles. Separate collecting means are then provided for the different types of spoons.

United States Patent Ettlinger, Jr. et al.

[451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] SILVERWARE SORTER [72] Inventors: RalphEttlinger, Jr., Highland Park; Frank J. Kostohryz, Elmhurst, both ofIll.

[73] Assignee: Avant Industries, Inc., Wheeling, Ill. [22] Filed: Mar.30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 23,855

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attorney-McDougall, Hersh & Scott[5 7] ABSTRACT A silverware sorting construction for handling knives,forks and spoons. A bed is provided with vibrating means or otherdevices for moving silverware toward a discharge end of the bed. Kniveson the bed are maintained in position and are discharged into collectingmeans located at the end of the bed. Discharge openings are defined atan intermediate location, and both forks and spoons pass through thedischarge openings. A plate is positioned beneath the dischargeopenings, and slots are defined by the plate for receiving the forks andspoons. The slots are dimensioned so that the forks will pass throughthe plate into separate collecting means. The spoons are held suspendedby their bowls and are moved along the plate to discharge openings atthe end of the plate. A

separating means may be employed for separating spoons of differentsize, for example separating spoons with longer handles from spoons withshorter handles. Separate collecting means are then provided for thedifferent types of spoons.

14 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented April 4, 1972 3,853,507

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SILVERWARE SORTER This invention relates to anapparatus for handling silverware. The apparatus is particularlydesigned for sorting silverware so that knives, spoons and forks canautomatically be collected in separate receptacles.

Many institutions, for example schools, restaurants, and industrialcafeterias, handle large volumes of tableware to provide food service.In a typical operation involving cafeteriastyle service, plates,saucers, cups, glasses and silverware, as well as cafeteria trays mustbe collected in some fashion, washed, and then reused.

It is normal practice to manually separate the various items oftableware. The separate stacks of trays, plates, etc., are then manuallyloaded into dishwashing racks or directed onto conveyors for passagethrough automatic dishwashing equipment. When the washing operation iscompleted, additional manual handling of at least some of these items isrequired to restack the items or to otherwise store them until they areready for further use.

In copending application Ser. No. 828,510, entitled, Vibrating SorterFor Soiled Tableware, there is described a system whereby various itemsof tableware can be conveyed in random fashion for automatic separationof the tableware to thereby minimize manual handling. In copendingapplication Ser. No. 851,927, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,569,752 entitledTableware Tray Tilting And Conveying Means", means are described forhandling cafeteria trays in a system of the type described in the firstmentioned application.

Although the systems described in the previous applications are quitesatisfactory from the standpoint of separating various items oftableware, special problems remain insofar as silverware is concerned.Naturally pieces of silverware represent a proportionally higher numberof pieces when the total number of pieces used in a particularinstitution are considered. Accordingly, it is most important to providemeans for reducing as much as possible the handling of silverware tothereby minimize labor costs, to save time in the over-all dishwashingoperation, and to eliminate handling of clean silverware prior to use inthe dining area.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improvedconstruction for sorting silverware.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a silverwaresorting construction which operates to automatically separate knives,spoons, and forks so that manual separation of these items can beeliminated.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter, andfor purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specificembodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a silverware sorting construction characterizedby the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front end view of the construction;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear end view of the construction;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken about the line 6-6 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view, partly cut away, illustrating thedischarge end of the construction;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken about the line99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a mechanism employed for separating forks andspoons taken about the line l111 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 12 is a vertical, sectional view taken about the line 12-l2 ofFIG.8;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken about the line1313 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken about the line l4l4ofFIG. 11; and,

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the construction with silverwarecollecting receptacles associated therewith.

The construction of the invention generally includes a bed forsupporting knives, forks, and spoons delivered onto the bed. Means areprovided for moving the silverware along the bed toward a discharge end.Preferably the system includes vibrating means for this purpose so thatthe movement can be rather precisely controlled and so that thesilverware will move along desired paths, preferably provided by meansof troughs defined in the bed.

A collecting means for knives includes a chute positioned at the end ofthe bed. The knives are loaded on the bed, and are retained on the beduntil they fall into the chute which guides them to a suitablereceptacle.

Discharge outlets are provided in the bed ahead of the chute forcollecting knives. The forks and spoons all pass through these dischargeopenings and onto a plate structure defined between the dischargeopenings. In a preferred form of the invention, this plate structurecomprises a lower bed which forms a unit with the upper bed and which isconnected to the same vibrating means.

Slots are formed in the lower bed, and these slots are dimensioned sothat the forks will pass completely through the lower bed into suitablereceptacles for the forks. The handles of the spoons will also passthrough the slots; however, the slots are not sufficiently large topermit passage of the bowl portions of the spoons. The spoons remainsuspended in the slots, and they are moved along the slots, preferablybecause of the vibrating action.

Discharge outlets are provided at the 'ends of the slots, and the spoonsprogress through these outlets. In a preferred form of the invention,spoons with longer handles, for example, tablespoons, are separated fromspoons with shorter handles such as teaspoons. This separation isaccomplished by providing cam means which force the long handled spoonsinto one side of a separating wall. Means such as an air spray are thenemployed for forcing the short handled spoons onto the other side of thewall, and separate collecting means are provided for the different typesof spoons.

The form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings comprisesan upper bed 10 supported on a pan 12. A plurality of delivery conduits14 are provided for placing silverware of the bed 10. The conduits 14may be connected to an automatic dishwasher separating apparatus such asdescribed in copending application Ser. No. 828,510. Thus, theconstruction of this invention may be utilized immediately aftersilverware has been separated from other types of tableware. Aftersorting of the silverware in the manner to be described, the silverwaremay be collected in baskets or other receptacles for passage through adishwashing machine. If the receptacles are of a suitable type,silverware may be immediately carried in the receptacles for reuse in arestaurant operation or the like. This arrangement will completelyeliminate manual handling of the silverware by employees.

The system of this invention is also suitable for sorting silverwareafter the silverware has passed through a dishwashing machine. Thus, thesoiled silverware may be loaded in a dishwashing machine in randomfashion which is sometimes preferable in order to maintain theindividual pieces of silverware in a separated state. After cleaning,the silverware can be delivered to the apparatus of this invention andautomatically sorted into individual containers before reuse.

The pan 12 is mounted on vertically extending plates 16 which aresecured to vibrator 18. The mounting base 21 has springs 22 and 23 atits opposite ends to provide a conventional means for isolating thevibrator assembly. The vibrator is set so that the silverware willprogress from the entry end adjacent the conduits 14 toward the oppositeend. A plurality of troughs 20 are defined by the bed so that thesilverware will move along defined paths. In practice, the silverware ispreferably delivered through the individual chutes, one piece at a time,so that there are no pieces on top of each other during travel along thebed 10.

Knives typically have handles which allow them to pass over slots 34without dropping through the slots. Thus, the width, weight, thickness,etc., of the handles causes the knives to remain in a horizontalposition during travel along the bed. The knives, therefore, progress tothe discharge end, and are then delivered into a chute 25. This chutedefines a narrow end portion 24 which directs all knives out through anopening 26 defined in the end wall 28 of the pan 12.

The knives may be collected by directing the knives down a guide member55 and into a collecting receptacle 57. Similarly collecting receptacles59 and 61 may be provided, respectively, for the forks and spoons.Where, as will be described, the spoons are separated by size, aseparate receptacle will be located behind the receptacle 61 forreceiving spoons directed to the back side of the wall 58. It will beappreciated that a plurality of receptacles will be required dependingupon the number of separate discharge positions of the various pieces ofsilverware. In addition, suitable guide plates may be employed to insurethat the respective types of silverware are directed to the properreceptacle.

Because of the curvature of forks and spoons, the handles of these itemsare positioned at an angle relative to the bottom surface of the troughs20. As shown in FIG. 8, the handle 30 is at a slight angle relative tothe surface 32 of the trough 20. Slots 34 are provided adjacent the endof each trough 20, and these openings are dimensioned so that thehandles of the spoons and forks will move into the openings. Asindicated, the knives remain in a horizontal position and move pastthese openings 34.

The attitude of the spoon and fork handles is preferably controlled byproviding cam surfaces 36 mid-way along the troughs 20. These camsurfaces tend to locate the handles on edge as shown in FIG. 4 tofacilitate movement into the openings 34.

A plurality of short chutes 38 are located beneath openings 34 fordelivering the forks and spoons onto the bed 40 of the pan 12. This beddefines a plurality of troughs 42, each defining an elongated slot 44.As best shown in FIGS. 12 through 14, the slots 44 are sufficiently wideto permit forks 46 to fall through the bed 40. Guide elements 48 areprovided for directing the forks to suitable receptacles.

The handles of spoons 50 will also pass through the slots 44; however,the bowls of these handles will not pass through whereby the spoons aresuspended. Because of the vibrating action, the spoons move along theslots 44 toward discharge openings 52. The spoons then drop throughthese discharge openings where they are collected by a suitablereceptacle.

ln most operations involving the handling of silverware, spoons ofdifferent types are employed. The spoon 50 is intended to correspond toa teaspoon while the spoon 54 represents a tablespoon or soup spoon.Because of the relative length of the handles of these spoons, meanshave been developed which will separate the spoons according to sizebefore the spoons drop through the discharge openings 52.

The separating means include a cam 56 positioned beneath each slot 44.This cam is located so that spoons with longer handles engage the camthereby holding these spoons in a desired position. A wall 58 is locatedimmediately beyond the cam 56 and the cams direct the handles of theselonger handled spoons for movement along one side of each wall 58.

The shorter handled spoons are intended to move along the other side ofthe wall 58. The position of the shorter handled spoons may becontrolled by any means located to engage these handles after the longerhandles engage the cams 56. For example, air streams may be dischargedfrom one or more openings 62 in nozzles 60 with the air streams engagingeach spoon moving along the slots 44. A common air supply 64 is providedfor each nozzle. As best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the air streamsoperate to push the shorter handled spoons to one side of the wall 58.The streams also engage the longer handled spoons; however, these spoonsare prevented from movement to that side ofthe wall 58 by the cam 56.

A brush, flexible arm, or other diverting means could be used in placeof the air streams. It is preferable that these diverting means beflexible in nature so that the long handles which are in engagement withcams 56 can force their way by the diverting means. On the other hand,the cams 56 could be designed so that they push the long handles into asignificantly different path with other stationary cam means then beingemployed for diverting the shorter handled spoons.

Other means are contemplated for separating spoons or other pieces ofsilverware depending upon variations in configuration. For example,suitable cams can be designed for engaging the bowls of spoons withbowls of different size being diverted to different collection means.

It will be apparent that spoons reaching the discharge openings 52 willfall on opposite sides of the wall 58 depending upon the length of thespoon handles. Suitable collecting means for the different types ofspoons are positioned in appropriate places adjacent these walls.

The structure described is particularly suitable for use in conjunctionwith vibrating means. Thus, both of the beds 10 and 40 are connected tothe same vibrator and, therefore, all of the desired movement can beaccomplished with one power source. It will be appreciated, however,that the bed 40 may be provided by means ofa completely independentplate, and separate means may be utilized for moving spoons suspended onthis plate. Suitable brush constructions or fluid streams could beemployed for imparting movement to the silverware on either bed eitheras independent power means or in conjunction with the vibrating means.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madein the above described construction without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

That which is claimed is:

l. A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks andspoons, said construction comprising a bed for supporting silverware,means for moving the silverware along the bed toward a discharge end,the knives on said bed being retained in a substantially horizontalposition during movement across the bed, first collecting meanspositioned adjacent said discharge end for receiving said knives fromthe bed, at least one discharge opening defined by said bed, said forksand spoons dropping through said discharge opening, a plate positionedbeneath said discharge opening, a slot in said plate dimensioned topermit the passage of said forks beyond the plate, second collectingmeans for receiving said forks, said slot also permitting passage of thespoon handles but being dimensioned to prevent passage of the bowlportion of spoons whereby spoons are suspended by said plate, means formoving suspended spoons along the length of said slot, and thirdcollecting means at the end of said slot for receiving said spoons.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed is mountedon vibrating means adapted to move silverware positioned on the bedtoward said discharge end.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plate isattached to said bed whereby said vibrating means also operate to movesaid spoons along said slot.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed defines aplurality of troughs, and wherein said silverware is deposited on saidbed and then moves along said troughs toward said discharge end.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said firstcollecting means for said knives includes a chute having an entry endpositioned adjacent the discharge end of said bed and beingsubstantially coextensive therewith, said knives moving along said bedand progressing directly from said bed into said chute.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including means forseparating spoons having shorter handles from spoons having longerhandles, said separating means comprising a cam element for engagingspoons with a longer handle, and a wall positioned adjacent said camelement, said cam element directing the spoons with long handles on oneside of said wall during movement of the spoons along said slot whilethe spoons with shorter handles move along the other side of said wall.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 6 including air dischargemeans directed toward the spoon handles during movement of the spoonsalong said slot, said air discharge means operating to force the spoonswith shorter handles to a position for movement of the shorter spoonhandles along said other side of said wall.

8. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 7 wherein said thirdcollecting means comprise separate receptacles for receiving spoonshaving long handles and spoons having short handles.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said plate definesa plurality of separate slots for passage of forks and for suspendingspoons.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forks andspoons are delivered handles-first to said bed, said discharge openingdefined by said bed being dimensioned so that said handles benddownwardly into said discharge opening whereby the forks and spoons aredirected through the discharge opening.

11. A construction in accordance with claim 10 including a chutepositioned beneath said discharge opening operating to direct said forksand spoons handles-first onto said plate.

12. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said platecomprises the bed of a pan structure, said first mentioned bed beingmounted on said pan structure above said pan bed, and wherein the meansfor moving the silverware along said upper bed and along the length ofsaid slot comprises a vibrating means connected to the bottom of saidpan structure.

13. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including cam meansdefined by said bed for locating the handles of said forks and spoons onedge to facilitate dropping of the forks and spoons through saiddischarge opening.

14. A construction in accordance with claim I wherein said bed ismaintained in a substantially horizontal position with the silverwarebeing initially placed in a horizontal position on the bed.

1. A construction for sorting silverware including knives, forks andspoons, said construction comprising a bed for supporting silverware,means for moving the silverware along the bed toward a discharge eNd,the knives on said bed being retained in a substantially horizontalposition during movement across the bed, first collecting meanspositioned adjacent said discharge end for receiving said knives fromthe bed, at least one discharge opening defined by said bed, said forksand spoons dropping through said discharge opening, a plate positionedbeneath said discharge opening, a slot in said plate dimensioned topermit the passage of said forks beyond the plate, second collectingmeans for receiving said forks, said slot also permitting passage of thespoon handles but being dimensioned to prevent passage of the bowlportion of spoons whereby spoons are suspended by said plate, means formoving suspended spoons along the length of said slot, and thirdcollecting means at the end of said slot for receiving said spoons.
 2. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bed is mounted onvibrating means adapted to move silverware positioned on the bed towardsaid discharge end.
 3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid plate is attached to said bed whereby said vibrating means alsooperate to move said spoons along said slot.
 4. A construction inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said bed defines a plurality of troughs,and wherein said silverware is deposited on said bed and then movesalong said troughs toward said discharge end.
 5. A construction inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said first collecting means for saidknives includes a chute having an entry end positioned adjacent thedischarge end of said bed and being substantially coextensive therewith,said knives moving along said bed and progressing directly from said bedinto said chute.
 6. A construction in accordance with claim 1 includingmeans for separating spoons having shorter handles from spoons havinglonger handles, said separating means comprising a cam element forengaging spoons with a longer handle, and a wall positioned adjacentsaid cam element, said cam element directing the spoons with longhandles on one side of said wall during movement of the spoons alongsaid slot while the spoons with shorter handles move along the otherside of said wall.
 7. A construction in accordance with claim 6including air discharge means directed toward the spoon handles duringmovement of the spoons along said slot, said air discharge meansoperating to force the spoons with shorter handles to a position formovement of the shorter spoon handles along said other side of saidwall.
 8. A construction in accordance with claim 7 wherein said thirdcollecting means comprise separate receptacles for receiving spoonshaving long handles and spoons having short handles.
 9. A constructionin accordance with claim 6 wherein said plate defines a plurality ofseparate slots for passage of forks and for suspending spoons.
 10. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forks and spoonsare delivered handles-first to said bed, said discharge opening definedby said bed being dimensioned so that said handles bend downwardly intosaid discharge opening whereby the forks and spoons are directed throughthe discharge opening.
 11. A construction in accordance with claim 10including a chute positioned beneath said discharge opening operating todirect said forks and spoons handles-first onto said plate.
 12. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plate comprises thebed of a pan structure, said first mentioned bed being mounted on saidpan structure above said pan bed, and wherein the means for moving thesilverware along said upper bed and along the length of said slotcomprises a vibrating means connected to the bottom of said panstructure.
 13. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including cammeans defined by said bed for locating the handles of said forks andspoons on edge to facilitate dropping of the forks and spoons throughsaid discharge opening.
 14. A construction in accordance with claim 1wherein said bed is maintained in a substantially hoRizontal positionwith the silverware being initially placed in a horizontal position onthe bed.